LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Class 


MAGUAYAN 

( See  page  57  ) 


PHILIPPINE    FOLKLORE 
STORIES 


JOHN  MAURICE  MILLER 


X?-  ,      iJjJ&S*.**   .. 

O      THE 

SR; 
., 

BOSTON,  U.S.A. 

GINN  &   COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 
(Re  SUfcensettm 

1904 


'SHAL1 


COPYRIGHT,  1904 
BY  GINN  &  COMPANY 


ALL    RIGHTS    RESERVED 


/PREFACED 

I^^^L^^'  * 


these  stories  are  only  legends  that  have 
been  handed  down  from  remote  times, 
the  teacher  must  impress  upon  the  minds  of 
the  children  that  they  are  myths  and  are  not 
to  be  given  credence ;  otherwise  the  imaginative 
minds  of  the  native  children  would  accept  them 
as  truth,  and  trouble  would  be  caused  that 
might  be  hard  to  remedy.  Explain  then  the 
fiction  and  show  the  children  the  folly  of  belief 
in  such  fanciful  tales. 


1  ft 1752 


THE  TOBACCO  OF  HARISABOQUED    . 

THE  PERICOS          .         .         .         . 

QUICOY  AND  THE  ONGLOC 

THE  PASSING  OF  LOKU 

THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  FLY 

MANGITA  AND  LARINA  . 

How  THE  WORLD  WAS  MADE  . 

THE  SILVER  SHOWER     . 

THE  FAITHLESSNESS  OF  SINOGO 

CATALINA  OF  DUMAGUETE    . 

THE  FALL  OF  POLOBULAC 

THE  ESCAPE  OF  JUANITA 

THE  ANTING-ANTING  OF  MANUELITO 

WHEN  THE  LILIES  RETURN  . 


PAGE 

9 

17 
23 

35 
4i 

47 
57 
65 
77 
87 
97 
105 

H3 
123 


/  OF  THE 

•" 

\^fX>     r 


THE  TOBACCO  OF   HARISABO- 
QUED 

A  legend  of  the  volcano  of  Canlaon  on  the  island  of 
Negros.  It  is  told  generally  in  Western  Negros  and  East 
ern  Cebu.  The  volcano  is  still  active,  and  smoke  and 
steam  rise  from  its  crater. 

ONG  before  the  strange  men 
came  over  the  water  from 
Spain,  there  lived  in  Negros, 
on  the  mountain  of  Canlaon,  an  old  man 
who  had  great  power  over  all  the  things 
in  the  earth.  He  was  called  Harisabo- 
qued,  King  of  the  Mountain. 


10  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

When  he  wished  anything  done  he  had 
but  to  tap  the  ground  three  times  and 
instantly  a  number  of  little  men  wquld 
spring  from  the  earth  to  answer  his  call. 
They  would  obey  his  slightest  wish,  but 
as  he  was  a  kind  old  man  and  never  told 
his  dwarfs  to  do  anything  wrong,  the 
people  who  lived  near  were  not  afraid. 
They  planted  tobacco  on  the  mountain 
side  and  were  happy  and  prosperous. 

The  fields  stretched  almost  to  the  top  of 
the  mountain  and  the  plants  grew  well, 
for  every  night  Harisaboqued  would  order 
his  dwarfs  to  attend  to  them,  and  though 
the  tobacco  was  high  up  it  grew  faster 
and  better  than  that  planted  in  the  valley 
below. 

The  people  were  very  grateful  to  the 
old  man  and  were  willing  to  do  anything 
for  him;  but  he  only  asked  them  not  to 
plant  above  a  line  he  had  ordered  his  little 
men  to  draw  around  the  mountain  near  the 


HARISABOQUED  AND  HIS  LITTLE  MEN 


1 1 


THE  TOBACCO   OF  HARISABOQUED  13 

top.  He  wished  that  place  for  himself 
and  his  dwarfs. 

All  obeyed  his  wish  and  no  one  planted 
over  the  line.  It  was  a  pretty  sight  to  see 
the  long  rows  of  tobacco  plants  extending 
from  the  towns  below  far  up  to  the  line 
on  the  mountain  side. 

One  day  Harisaboqued  called  the  people 
together  and  told  them  that  he  was  going 
away  for  a  long  time.  He  asked  them 
again  not  to  plant  over  the  line,  and  told 
them  that  if  they  disregarded  this  wish  he 
would  carry  all  the  tobacco  away  and  per 
mit  no  more  to  grow  on  the  mountain  side 
until  he  had  smoked  what  he  had  taken. 
The  people  promised  faithfully  to  obey 
him.  Then  he  tapped  on  the  ground,  the 
earth  opened,  and  he  disappeared  into  the 
mountain. 

Many  years  passed  and  Harisaboqued 
did  not  come  back.  All  wondered  why 
he  did  not  return  and  at  last  decided  that 


14  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

he  would  never  do  so.  The  whole  moun 
tain  side  was  covered  with  tobacco  and 
many  of  the  people  looked  with  greedy 
eyes  at  the  bare  ground  above  the  line, 
but  as  yet  they  were  afraid  to  break  their 
promise. 

At  last  one  man  planted  in  the  for 
bidden  ground,  and,  as  nothing  happened, 
others  did  the  same,  until  soon  the  moun 
tain  was  entirely  covered  with  the  waving 
plants.  The  people  were  very  happy  and 
soon  forgot  about  Harisaboqued  and  their 
promise  to  him. 

But  one  day,  while  they  were  laughing 
and  singing,  the  earth  suddenly  opened 
and  Harisaboqued  sprang  out  before  them. 
They  were  very  much  frightened  and  fled 
in  terror  down  the  mountain  side.  When 
they  reached  the  foot  and  looked  back 
they  saw  a  terrible  sight.  All  the  tobacco 
had  disappeared  and,  instead  of  the  thou 
sands  of  plants  that  they  had  tended  so 


THE  TOBACCO  OF  HARISABOQUED  15 

carefully,  nothing  but  the  bare   mountain 
could  be  seen. 

Then  suddenly  there  was  a  fearful  noise 
and  the  whole  mountain  top  flew  high  in 


the  air,  leaving  an  immense  hole  from 
which  poured  fire  and  smoke. 

The  people  fled  and  did  not  stop  until 
they  were  far  away.  Harisaboqued  had 
kept  his  word. 

Many  years  have  come  and  gone,  but 
the  mountain  is  bare  and  the  smoke  still 


i6 


PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE   STORIES 


rolls  out  of  the  mountain  top.  Villages 
have  sprung  up  along  the  sides,  but  no 
tobacco  is  grown  on  the  mountain.  The 
people  remember  the  tales  of  the  former 
great  crops  and  turn  longing  eyes  to  the 
heights  above  them,  but  they  will  have  to 
wait.  Harisaboqued  is  still  smoking  his 
tobacco. 


TME    PERICOS 


Throughout  the  Visayan  islands  almost  every  family 
owns  a  pericos,  kept  as  American  children  keep  canary 
birds.  The  pericos  is  about  the  size  and  color  of  a  crow, 
but  has  a  hard  white  hood  that  entirely  covers  its  head. 
The  people  teach  it  but  one  phrase,  which  it  repeats  con 
tinually,  parrot  fashion.  The  words  are,  "  Comusta  pari  ? 
Pericos  tao."  (How  are  you,  father  ?  Parrot-man.)  "Pari" 
means  padre  or  priest.  The  people  address  the  pericos  as 
"  pari"  because  its  white  head,  devoid  of  feathers,  seems  to 
resemble  the  shaven  crowns  of  the  friars  and  native  priests. 


I 

N  his  small  wooden  box 
That  hangs  on  the  wall 

Sits  a  queer-looking  bird 

That  in  words  sounds  his  call. 

From  daybreak  to  twilight 

His  cry  he  repeats, 
17 


1 8  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE   STORIES 

Resting  only  whenever 

He  drinks  or  he  eats. 
He  never  grows  weary,  - 
Hear !     There  he  goes  now ! 
"  Comusta  pari  ? 
Pericos  tao." 


ii 

And  all  the  day  long 

You  can  hear  this  strange  cry 
"  How  are  you,  father? 

A  parrot-man  I." 
He  sits  on  his  perch, 

In  his  little  white  cap, 
And  pecks  at  your  hand 

If  the  cage  door  you  tap. 
Now  give  him  some  seeds, 

Hear  him  say  with  a  bow, 
"  Comusta  pari  ? 
Pericos  tao." 


J'L- 


"  I'll  give  you  a  mango,  and  teach  you  to  say 

'  Thank  you,'  and  '  Yes,  sir,'  and  also  '  Good  day.'  " 


THE  PERICOS  21 

III 

Poor  little  birdie! 

How  hard  it  must  be 
To  sit  there  in  prison 

And  never  be  free! 
I'll  give  you  a  mango, 

And  teach  you  to  say 
"Thank  you,"  and  "Yes,  sir," 

And  also  "Good  day." 
You'll  find   English  as  easy 

As  what  you  say  now, 
"  Comusta  pari  ? 
Pericos  tao." 


IV 

I  '11  teach  you  "  Good  morning  " 
And  "How  do  you  do?" 

Or  "  I  am  well,  thank  you," 
And  "  How  are  you  too  ?  " 

"Polly  is  hungry"  or 
"  It 's  a  fine  day." 


22  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

These  and  much  more 

I  am  sure  you  could  say. 
But  now  I   must  go, 
So  say  with  your  bow, 
"  Comusta  pari  ? 
Pericos  tao." 


AND    THE    ONGLOC 


This  story  is  known  generally  in  the  southern  Islands. 
The  Ongloc  is  feared  by  the  children  just  as  some  little 
boys  and  girls  fear  the  Bogy  Man.  The  tale  is  a  favorite 
one  among  the  children  and  they  believe  firmly  in  the  fate 
of  Quicoy. 

JTTTLE  Quicoy's  name  was  Francisco, 
but  every  one  called  him  Quicoy, 
which,  in  Visayan,  is  the  pet 
name  for  Francisco.  He  was  a  good  little 
boy  and  helped  his  mother  grind  the  corn 
and  pound  the  rice  in  the  big  wooden  bowl, 
but  one  night  he  was  very  careless.  While 
playing  in  the  corner  with  the  cat  he  upset 

23 


24  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

the  jar  of  lubi  lana,  and  all  the  oil  ran 
down  between  the  bamboo  strips  in  the 
floor  and  was  lost.  There  was  none  left 
to  put  in  the  glass  and  light,  so  the  whole 
family  had  to  go  to  bed  in  the  dark. 

Quicoy's  mother  was  angry.  She 
whipped  him  with  her  chinela  and  then 
opened  the  window  and  cried : 

"  Ongloc  of  the  mountains  ! 

Fly  in  through  the  door. 
Catch  Quicoy  and  eat  him, 
He  is  mine  no  more." 

Quicoy  was  badly  frightened  when  he 
heard  this,  for  the  Ongloc  is  a  big  black 
man  with  terrible  long  teeth,  who  all  night 
goes  searching  for  the  bad  boys  and  girls 
that  he  may  change  them  into  little  cocoa- 
nuts  and  put  them  on  a  shelf  in  his  rock 
house  in  the  mountains  to  eat  when  he 
is  hungry. 

So  when  Quicoy  went  to  his  bed  in  the 
corner  he  pulled  the  matting  over  his  head 


QUICOY  AND  THE  ONGLOC  25 

and  was  so  afraid  that  he  did  not  go  to 
sleep  for  a  long  time. 

The  next  morning  he  rose  very  early 
and  went  down  to  the  spring  where  the 
boys  get  the  water  to  put  in  the  bamboo 
poles  and  carry  home.  Some  boys  were 
already  there,  and  he  told  them  what  had 
taken  place  the  night  before.  They  were 
all  sorry  that  his  mother  had  called  the 
Ongloc,  but  they  told  him  not  to  be  afraid 
for  they  would  tell  him  how  he  could  be 
forever  safe  from  that  terrible  man. 

It  was  very  easy.  All  he  had  to  do  was 
to  go  at  dusk  to  the  cocoanut  grove  by 
the  river  and  dig  holes  under  two  trees. 
Then  he  was  to  climb  a  tree,  get  the 
cocoanut  that  grew  the  highest,  and,  after 
taking  off  the  husk  and  punching  in  one 
of  the  little  eyes,  whisper  inside: 

"  Ongloc  of  the  mountains  ! 

Ongloc  !     Ugly  man  ! 
I  'm  a  little  cocoanut, 
Catch  me  if  you  can  J  " 


26  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

Then  he  was  to  cut  the  cocoanut  in 
halves,  quickly  bury  one  piece  in  one  of 
the  holes,  and,  running  to  the  other  tree, 
bury  the  remaining  half  in  the  other  hole. 
After  that  he  might  walk  home  safely, 
being  sure  not  to  run,  for  the  Ongloc  has 
always  to  obey  the  call  of  the  cocoanut, 
and  must  hunt  through  the  grove  to  find 
the  one  that  called  him.  Should  he  cross 
the  line  between  the  holes,  the  buried 
pieces  would  fly  out  of  the  holes,  snap 
together  on  him,  and,  flying  up  the  tree 
from  which  they  came,  would  keep  him 
prisoner  for  a  hundred  years. 

Quicoy  was  happy  to  think  that  he  could 
capture  the  Ongloc,  and  resolved  to  go  that 
very  night.  He  wanted  some  of  the  boys 
to  go  with  him,  but  they  said  he  must  go 
alone  or  the  charm  would  be  broken.  They 
also  told  him  to  be  careful  himself  and 
not  cross  the  line  between  the  holes  or  he 
would  be  caught  as  easily  as  the  Ongloc. 


QUICOY    OPENS   THE    COCOANUT 

27 


J3IXA 

>?E 

|    UNIVERSITY   ) 

\  OF  J 

QUICOY  AND  THE  OJs^GLOC  29 

So  Quicoy  went  home  and  kept  very 
quiet  all  day.  His  mother  was  sorry  she 
had  frightened  him  the  night  before,  and 
was  going  to  tell  him  not  to  be  afraid  ; 
but  when  she  thought  of  the  lubi  lana 
spilled  on  the  ground,  she  resolved  to  pun 
ish  him  more  by  saying  nothing  to  him. 

Just  at  dark,  when  no  one  was  looking, 
Quicoy  took  his  father's  bolo  and  quietly 
slipped  away  to  the  grove  down  by  the 
river.  He  was  not  afraid  of  ladrones,  but 
he  needed  the  bolo  because  it  is  not  easy 
to  open  a  cocoanut,  and  it  takes  some 
time,  even  with  a  bolo,  to  get  the  husk 
chopped  from  the  fruit. 

Quicoy  felt  a  little  frightened  when  he 
saw  all  the  big  trees  around  him.  The  wind 
made  strange  noises  in  the  branches  high 
above  him,  and  all  the  trees  seemed  to  be 
leaning  over  and  trying  to  speak  to  him. 
He  felt  somewhat  sorry  that  he  had  come, 
but  when  he  thought  of  the  Ongloc  he 


30  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

mustered  up  courage  and  went  on  until  he 
found  an  open  space  between  two  high  trees. 
He  stopped  here  and  dug  a  hole  under 
each  of  the  trees.  Then  he  put  his  feet  in 
the  notches  and  climbed  one  of  the  trees. 
It  was  hard  work,  for  the  notches  were  far 
apart ;  but  at  last  he  reached  the  branches 
and  climbed  to  the  top.  The  wind  rocked 
the  tree  and  made  him  dizzy,  but  he 
reached  the  highest  cocoanut,  threw  it  to 
the  ground,  and  then  started  down  the 
tree.  It  was  easy  to  come  down,  though 
he  went  too  fast  and  slipped  and  slid  some 
distance,  skinning  his  arms  and  legs.  He 
did  not  mind  that,  however,  for  he  knew 
he  had  the  cocoanut  that  would  capture 
the  Ongloc.  He  picked  it  up,  chopped  off 
the  husk,  punched  in  one  of  the  little  eyes, 
and  whispered  inside: 

"  Ongloc  of  the  mountains  ! 

Ongloc  !     Ugly  man  ! 
I  'm  a  little  cocoanut, 
Catch  me  if  you  can !  " 


QUICOY  AND  THE  ONGLOC 


31 


He  then  chopped  it  in  halves  and  buried 
one  piece,  and,  running  to  the  other  tree, 
buried  the  remaining  piece.  Just  as  he 
finished  he  thought  he  heard  a  noise  in 


the    grove,    and,    instead    of    walking,    he 
started  to  run  as  fast  as  he  could. 

It  was  very  dark  now,  and  the  noise 
grew  louder  and  made  him  run  faster  and 
faster,  until  suddenly  a  dreadful  scream 
sounded  directly  in  front  of  him,  and  a 
terrible  black  thing  with  fiery  eyes  came 


32  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE   STORIES 

flying  at  him.  He  turned  in  terror  and 
ran  back  toward  the  trees.  He  knew  it 
was  the  Ongloc  answering  the  call  of  the 
cocoanut,  and  he  ran  like  mad,  but  the 
monster  had  seen  him  and  flew  after  him, 
screaming  with  rage. 

Faster  and  faster  he  ran,  but  nearer  and 
nearer  sounded  the  frightful  screams  until, 
just  as  he  felt  two  huge  claws  close  on  his 
neck,  there  was  a  bump,  a  loud  snap,  and 
he  felt  himself  being  carried  high  in  the 
air.  When  the  shock  was  over  he  found 
that  he  \vas  squeezed  tightly  between  two 
hard  walls,  and  he  could  hear  the  Ongloc 
screaming  and  tearing  at  the  outside  with 
his  claws.  Then  he  knew  what  had 
happened. 

He  had  crossed  the  line  between  the 
buried  pieces  and  they  had  snapped  on 
him  and  carried  him  up  the  tree  from 
which  they  came.  He  was  badly  squeezed 
but  he  felt  safe  from  the  Ongloc,  who 


QUICOY  AND  THE  ONGLOC  33 

finally  went  away  in  disappointment;  for, 
although  he  likes  cocoanuts,  he  cannot 
take  one  from  a  tree,  but  must  change  a 
boy  or  girl  into  the  fruit  if  he  wishes  to 
eat  of  it. 

Quicoy  waited  a  long,  long  time  and 
then  knocked  on  the  shell  in  the  hope  that 
some  one  would  hear  him.  All  that  night 
and  the  next  day  and  the  next  he  knocked 
and  cried  and  knocked,  but,  though  people 
passed  under  the  tree  and  found  the  bolo, 
he  was  so  high  up  they  did  not  hear  him. 

Days  and  weeks  went  by  and  the  people 
wondered  wrhat  had  become  of  Quicoy. 
Many  thought  he  had  run  away  and  were 
sorry  for  his  poor  mother,  who  grieved 
very  much  to  think  she  had  terrified  him 
by  calling  the  Ongloc.  Of  course  the  boys 
who  had  sent  him  to  the  grove  could  have 
told  something  of  his  whereabouts,  but  they 
were  frightened  and  said  nothing,  so  no  one 
ever  heard  of  poor  little  Quicoy  again. 


34  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

If  you  pass  a  cocoanut  grove  at  night 
you  can  hear  a  noise  like  some  one  knock 
ing.  The  older  people  say  that  the  cocoa- 
nuts  grow  so  closely  together  high  up  in 
the  branches  that  the  wind,  when  it  shakes 
the  tree,  bumps  them  together.  But  the 
children  know  better.  They  say,  "  Quicoy 
is  knocking  to  get  out,  but  he  must  stay 
there  a  hundred  years." 


THE    PASSING  ' OF    LOKU 

The  tale  of  Loku  is  applied  to  a  large,  ugly  lizard  which 
climbs  to  the  rafters  of  houses  and  gives  the  peculiar  cry 
that  suggests  its  name.  This  lizard,  although  hideous,  is 
harmless  ;  it  lives  on  centipedes.  Its  strange  cry  may  be 
heard  everywhere  in  the  Philippine  Islands. 

UNDREDS  of  years  ago  a  very 
wicked  king  named  Loku  ruled 
the  Philippines.  He  was  cruel 
and  unjust,  and  condemned  to  death  all 
who  refused  to  do  his  bidding.  He  had 
vast  armies  and  made  war  on  all  until  his 
name  was  feared  everywhere. 

His  power  was  very  great.  He  con 
quered  every  nation  that  opposed  him 
and  killed  so  many  people  that  the  god, 

35 


36  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

viewing  the  slaughter  from  his  throne 
above,  sent  an  angel  to  order  him  to 
cease  from  warfare  and  to  rule  the  land 
in  peace. 

Loku  was  in  his  palace,  planning  an 
assault  on  his  neighbors,  when  a  soft 
light  filled"  the  chamber,  and  a  beautiful 
angel  appeared  and  delivered  the  mandate 
of  the  master. 

The  cruel  king  paid  no  heed,  but  dis 
missed  the  holy  messenger  in  scorn. 
11  Tell  your  master,"  said  he,  "  to  deliver 
his  message  in  person.  I  do  not  deal 
with  messengers.  I  am  Loku.  All  fear 
my  name.  I  am  the  great  Loku." 

Hardly  had  he  spoken  when  the  palace 
shook  to  its  foundations  and  a  mighty 
voice  thundered,  "  Is  it  thus  thou  slight 
est  my  word  ?  Thou  art  Loku.  All  shall 
indeed  know  thy  name.  From  every 
crevice  thou  shalt  forever  cry  it  in  a  form 
that  suits  thy  ill  nature." 


LOKU    AND   THE    ANGEL 

37 


/T   V     OF  THE 

|   UNIVERSITY 

OF  y 


THE  PASSING  OF   LOKU  39 

The  courtiers,  alarmed  by  the  shock, 
rushed  to  the  king's  chamber,  but  Loku 
was  nowhere  to  be  found.  The  royal 
robes  lay  scattered  on  the  floor  and  the 
only  living  thing  to  be  seen  was  an  ugly 
lizard  that  blinked  at  them  from  among 
the  plans  on  the  table. 

They  searched  far  and  wide,  and  when 
no  trace  of  the  king  could  be  found  the 
courtiers  divided  the  kingdom,  and  ruled 
so  wisely  and  well  that  there  was  peace 
for  many  years. 

As  for  Loku,  you  may  still  hear  him 
fulfilling  his  punishment.  From  crack 
and  crevice,  tree  and  shrub,  he  calls  his 
name  from  dark  till  dawn  :  "  Lok-u  !  Lok-u  ! 
Lok-u !  " 

And  he  must  cry  it  forever. 


T-HE    LIGHT   OF    THE    FLY 

The  firefly  abounds  everywhere  in  the  Islands. 


HE   King  of  the  Air  was  in  ter 
rible  rage, 

For  some  one  had  stolen  his  ring ; 
And   every  one  wondered   whoever   could 

dare 

To  do  such  a  terrible  thing. 
He  called  all  his  subjects  together  and  said, 

"  To  him  that  shall  find  it  I  '11  give 
Whatever  he  asks,  and  this  bounty  of  mine 
Shall  last  while  his  family  live." 


42  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

II 

Away   went    his    good    loyal    subjects    to 

search, 

And  no  one  remained  but  a  fly. 
"  Be  off !  "  said  the  King,  "  go  and  join  in 

the  search ; 

Would  you  slight  such  a  ruler  as  I  ?  " 
Then  up  spoke  the  fly  with  his  little  wee 

voice : 

"  The  ring  is  not  stolen,"  he  said. 
"  It  stuck  to  your  crown  when  you  put  it 

away, 
And  now  it's  on  top  of  your  head." 

in 

The  King  in  surprise  took  the  crown  from 

his  head, 

And  there,  sure  enough,  was  the  ring. 
"  No  wonder  you   saw  it,  with   so   many 

eyes ;  ' 
But  what  is  your  wish  ?  "  said  the  King. 


"  And  there,  sure  enough,  was  the  ring." 
43 


THE   LIGHT  OF  THE  FLY  45 

"  O  King,"  said  the  fly,  "  I  work  hard  all 

the  day, 

And  I  never  can  go  out  at  night. 
I  should  like  to  go  then  and  be  gay  with 

my  friends, 
So  all  that  I  wish  is  a  light." 

IV 

"You   shall    have   it    at    once,"   said   the 

gratified  King, 

And  he  fastened  a  light  to  the  fly, 
Who    straightway  returned    to    his   home 

with  the  prize 
That  was  worth  more  than  money  could 

buy. 
So  now  you  can  see  him  at  night  with  his 

light 

And  from  him  this  lesson  may  learn : 
To  keep  your  eyes  open  and  see  the  least 

thing, 
And  Fortune  will  come  in  its  turn. 


46 


MANGITA  mND   LARINA 

This  is  a  tale  told  in  the  lake  district  of  Luzon.  At 
times  of  rain  or  in  winter  the  waters  of  the  Laguna  de  Bai 
rise  and  detach  from  the  banks  a  peculiar  vegetation  that 
resembles  lettuce.  These  plants,  which  float  for  months 
down  the  Pasig  River,  gave  rise,  no  doubt,  to  the  story. 

ANY  years  ago  there  lived  on 
the  banks  of  the  Laguna  de  Bai 
a  poor  fisherman  whose  wife  had 
died,  leaving  him  two  beautiful  daughters 
named  Mangita  and  Larina. 

Mangita  had  hair  as  black  as  night  and 
a  dark  skin.  She  was  as  good  as  she  was 
beautiful,  and  was  loved  by  all  for  her 
kindness.  She  helped  her  father  mend 

47 


48  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

the  nets  and  make  the  torches  to  fish  with 
at  night,  and  her  bright  smile  lit  up  the 
little  nipa  house  like  a  ray  of  sunshine. 

Larina  was  fair  and  had  long  golden 
hair  of  which  she  was  very  proud.  She 
was  different  from  her  sister,  and  never 
helped  with  the  work,  but  spent  the  day 
combing  her  hair  and  catching  butter 
flies.  She  would  catch  a  pretty  butterfly, 
cruelly  stick  a  pin  through  it,  and  fasten 
it  in  her  hair.  Then  she  would  go  down 
to  the  lake  to  see  her  reflection  in  the  clear 
water,  and  would  laugh  to  see  the  poor 
butterfly  struggling  in  pain.  The  people 
disliked  her  for  her  cruelty,  but  they  loved 
Mangita  very  much.  This  made  Larina 
jealous,  and  the  more  Mangita  was  loved, 
the  more  her  sister  thought  evil  of  her. 

One  day  a  poor  old  woman  came  to 
the  nipa  house  and  begged  for  a  little  rice 
to  put  in  her  bowl.  Mangita  was  mending 
a  net  and  Larina  was  combing  her  hair  in 


Mangita  sprang  to  help  her." 
49 


MANGITA  AND   LARINA  51 

the  doorway.  When  Larina  saw  the  old 
woman  she  spoke  mockingly  to  her  and 
gave  her  a  push  that  made  her  fall  and 
cut  her  head  on  a  sharp  rock ;  but  Man- 
gita  sprang  to  help  her,  washed  the  blood 
away  from  her  head,  and  filled  her  bowl 
\vith  rice  from  the  jar  in  the  kitchen. 

The  poor  woman  thanked  her  and  prom 
ised  never  to  forget  her  kindness,  but  to 
her  sister  she  spoke  not  a  word.  Larina 
did  not  care,  however,  but  laughed  at  her 
and  mocked  her  as  she  painfully  made  her 
way  again  down  the  road.  When  she  had 
gone  Mangita  took  Larina  to  task  for  her 
cruel  treatment  of  a  stranger ;  but,  instead 
of  doing  any  good,  it  only  caused  Larina 
to  hate  her  sister  all  the  more. 

Some  time  afterwards  the  poor  fisher 
man  died.  He  had  gone  to  the  big  city 
down  the  river  to  sell  his  fish,  and  had 
been  attacked  with  a  terrible  sickness  that 
was  raging  there. 


52  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

The  girls  were  now  alone  in  the  world. 
Mangita  carved  pretty  shells  and  earned 
enough  to  buy  food,  but,  though  she 
begged  >  Larina  to  try  to  help,  her  sister 
would  only  idle  away  the  time. 

The  terrible  sickness  now  swept  every 
where  and  poor  Mangita,  too,  fell  ill.  She 
asked  Larina  to  nurse  her,  but  the  latter 
was  jealous  of  her  and  would  do  nothing 
to  ease  her  pain.  Mangita  grew  worse 
and  worse,  but  finally,  when  it  seemed  as 
if  she  would  soon  die,  the  door  opened 
and  the  old  woman  to  whom  she  had  been 
so  kind  came  into  the  room.  She  had  a 
bag  of  seeds  in  her  hand,  and  taking  one 
she  gave  it  to  Mangita,  who  soon  showed 
signs  of  being  better,  but  was  so  weak 
that  she  could  not  give  thanks. 

The  old  woman  then  gave  the  bag  to 
Larina  and  told  her  to  give  a  seed  to  her 
sister  every  hour  until  she  returned.  She 
then  went  away  and  left  the  girls  alone. 


MANGITA  AND   LARINA  53 

Larina  watched  her  sister,  but  did  not 
give  her  a  single  seed.  Instead,  she  hid 
them  in  her  own  long  hair  and  paid  no 
attention  to  Mangita's  moans  of  pain. 

The  poor  girl's  cries  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  but  not  a  seed  would  her  cruel 
sister  give  her.  In  fact,  Larina  was  so 
jealous  that  she  wished  her  sister  to  die. 

When  at  last  the  old  woman  returned, 
poor  Mangita  was  at  the  point  of  death. 
The  visitor  bent  over  the  sick  girl  and 
then  asked  her  sister  if  she  had  given 
Mangita  the  seeds.  Larina  showed  her 
the  empty  bag  and  said  she  had  given 
them  as  directed.  The  old  woman  searched 
the  house,  but  of  course  could  not  find  the 
seeds.  She  then  asked  Larina  again  if 
she  had  given  them  to  Mangita.  Again 
the  cruel  girl  said  that  she  had  done  so. 

Suddenly  the  room  was  filled  with  a 
blinding  light,  and  when  Larina  could  see 
once  more,  in  place  of  the  old  woman 


54 


PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 


stood   a  beautiful   fairy  holding   the  now 
well  Mangita  in  her  arms. 

She  pointed  to  Larina  and  said,  "  I  am 
the  poor  woman  who  asked  for  rice.  I 
wished  to  know  your  hearts.  You  were 


cruel  and  Mangita  was  kind,  so  she  shall 
live  with  me  in  my  island  home  in  the 
lake.  As  for  you,  because  you  tried  to  do 
evil  to  your  good  sister,  you  shall  sit  at 
the  bottom  of  the  lake  forever,  combing 
out  the  seeds  you  have  hidden  in  your 


MANGITA  AND   LARINA  55 

hair."  Then  she  clapped  her  hands  and  a 
number  of  elves  appeared  and  carried  the 
struggling  Larina  away. 

"  Come,"  said  the  fairy  to  Mangita,  and 
she  carried  her  to  her  beautiful  home, 
where  she  lives  in  peace  and  happiness. 

As  for  Larina,  she  sits  at  the  bottom 
of  the  lake  and  combs  her  hair.  As  she 
combs  a  seed  out,  another  comes  in,  and 
every  seed  that  is  combed  out  becomes  a 
green  plant  that  floats  out  of  the  lake  and 
down  the  Pasig. 

And  to  this  day  people  can  see  them, 
and  know  that  Larina  is  being  punished 
for  her  wickedness. 


Or  1  HE 

UNIVERSITY 


«OW/T;«E  WORLD  WAS  MADE 

This  is  the  ancient  Filipino  account  of  the  creation. 

HOUSANDS  of  years  ago 
Bb  there  was  no  land  nor  sun 
nor  moon  nor  stars,  and  the 
world  \vas  only  a  great  sea  of  water,  above 
which  stretched  the  sky.  The  water  was 
the  kingdom  of  the  god  Maguayan,  and  the 
sky  was  ruled  by  the  great  god  Captan. 

Maguayan  had  a  daughter  called  Lida- 
gat,  the  sea,  and  Captan  had  a  son  known 
as  Lihangin,  the  wind.  The  gods  agreed 

57 


58  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE   STORIES 

to  the  marriage  of  their  children,  so  the 
sea  became  the  bride  of  the  wind. 

Three  sons  and  a  daughter  were  born 
to  them.  The  sons  were  called  Licalibu- 
tan,  Liadlao,  and  Libulan,  and  the  daughter 
received  the  name  of  Lisuga. 

Licalibutan  had  a  body  of  rock  and  was 
strong  and  brave;  Liadlao  was  formed  of 
gold  and  was  always  happy ;  Libulan  was 
made  of  copper  and  was  weak  and  timid ; 
and  the  beautiful  Lisuga  had  a  body  of 
pure  silver  and  was  sweet  and  gentle. 
Their  parents  were  very  fond  of  them,  and 
nothing  was  wanting  to  make  them  happy. 

After  a  time  Lihangin  died  and  left 
the  control  of  the  winds  to  his  eldest  son 
Licalibutan.  The  faithful  wife  Lidagat 
soon  followed  her  husband,  and  the  chil 
dren,  now  grown  up,  were  left  without 
father  or  mother.  However,  their  grand 
fathers,  Captan  and  Maguayan,  took  care 
of  them  and  guarded  them  from  all  evil. 


HOW  THE  WORLD  WAS  MADE       59 

After  a  time,  Licalibutan,  proud  of  his 
power  over  the  winds,  resolved  to  gain 
more  power,  and  asked  his  brothers  to 
join  him  in  an  attack  on  Captan  in  the 
sky  above.  At  first  they  refused ;  but  when 
Licalibutan  became  angry  with  them,  the 
amiable  Liadlao,  not  wishing  to  offend  his 
brother,  agreed  to  help.  Then  together  they 
induced  the  timid  Libulan  to  join  in  the  plan. 

When  all  wras  ready  the  three  brothers 
rushed  at  the  sky,  but  they  could  not  beat 
down  the  gates  of  steel  that  guarded  the 
entrance.  Then  Licalibutan  let  loose  the 
strongest  winds  and  blew  the  bars  in  every 
direction.  The  brothers  rushed  into  the 
opening,  but  were  met  by  the  angry  god 
Captan.  So  terrible  did  he  look  that  they 
turned  and  rah  in  terror;  but  Captan,  furi 
ous  at  the  destruction  of  his  gates,  sent 
three  bolts  of  lightning  after  them. 

The  first  struck  the  copper  Libulan  and 
melted  him  into  a  ball.  The  second  struck 


60  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

the  golden  Liadlao  and  he  too  was  melted. 
The  third  bolt  struck  Licalibutan  and  his 
rocky  body  broke  into  many  pieces  and 
fell  into  the  sea.  So  huge  was  he  that 
parts  of  his  body  stuck  out  above  the 
water  and  became  what  is  known  as  land. 

In  the  meantime  the  gentle  Lisuga  had 
missed  her  brothers  and  started  to  look 
for  them.  She  went  toward  the  sky,  but 
as  she  approached  the  broken  gates,  Cap- 
tan,  blind  with  anger,  struck  her  too  with 
lightning,  and  her  silver  body  broke  into 
thousands  of  pieces. 

Captan  then  came  down  from  the  sky 
and  tore  the  sea  apart,  calling  on  Magua- 
yan  to  come  to  him  and  accusing  him 
of  ordering  the  attack  on  the  sky.  Soon 
Maguayan  appeared  and  answered  that  he 
knew  nothing  of  the  plot  as  he  had  been 
asleep  far  down  in  the  sea.  After  a  time 
he  succeeded  in  calming  the  angry  Captan. 
Together  they  wept  at  the  loss  of  their 


HOW  THE  WORLD  WAS  MADE  6 1 

grandchildren,  especially  the  gentle  and 
beautiful  Lisuga;  but  with  all  their  power 
they  could  not  restore  the  dead  to  life. 
However,  they  gave  to  each  body  a  beau 
tiful  light  that  will  shine  forever. 

And  so  it  was  that  golden  Liadlao  be 
came  the  sun  and  copper  Libulan  the 
moon,  while  the  thousands  of  pieces  of 
silver  Lisuga  shine  as  the  stars  of  heaven. 
To  wicked  Licalibutan  the  gods  gave  no 
light,  but  resolved  to  make  his  body  sup 
port  a  new  race  of  people.  So  Captan 
gave  Maguayan  a  seed  and  he  planted  it 
on  the  land,  which,  as  you  will  remem 
ber,  was  part  of  Licalibutan's  huge  body. 
Soon  a  bamboo  tree  grew  up,  and  from 
the  hollow  of  one  of  its  branches  a  man 
and  a  woman  came  out.  The  man's  name 
was  Sicalac,  and  the  woman  was  called 
Sicabay.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
human  race.  Their  first  child  was  a  son 
iwhom  they  called  Libo;  afterwards  they 


62 


PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 


had  a  daughter  who  was  known  as  Saman. 
Pandaguan  was  a  younger  son  and  he  had 
a  son  called  Arion. 

Pandaguan  was  very  clever  and  invented 
a  trap  to  catch  fish.  The  very  first  thing 
he  caught  was  a  huge  shark.  When  he 


brought  it  to  land,  it  looked  so  great  and 
fierce  that  he  thought  it  was  surely  a  god, 
and  he  at  once  ordered  his  people  to  wor 
ship  it.  Soon  all  gathered  around  and 
began  to  sing  and  pray  to  the  shark.  Sud 
denly  the  sky  and  sea  opened,  and  the  gods 


HOW  THE  WORLD  WAS  MADE       63 

came  out  and  ordered  Pandaguan  to  throw 
the  shark  back  into  the  sea  and  to  wor 
ship  none  but  them. 

All  were  afraid  except  Pandaguan.  He 
grew  very  bold  and  answered  that  the 
shark  was  as  big  as  the  gods,  and  that 
since  he  had  been  able  to  overpower  it  he 
would  also  be  able  to  conquer  the  gods. 
Then  Captan,  hearing  this,  struck  Panda 
guan  with  a  small  thunderbolt,  for  he  did 
not  wish  to  kill  him  but  merely  to  teach 
him  a  lesson.  Then  he  and  Maguayan  de 
cided  to  punish  these  people  by  scattering 
them  over  the  earth,  so  they  carried  some 
to  one  land  and  some  -to  another.  Many 
children  were  afterwards  born,  and  thus 
the  earth  became  inhabited  in  all  parts. 

Pandaguan  did  not  die.  After  lying  on 
the  ground  for  thirty  days  he  regained  his 
strength,  but  his  body  was  blackened  from 
the  lightning,  and  all  his  descendants  ever 
since  that  day  have  been  black. 


64  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

His  first  son,  Arion,  was  taken  north, 
but  as  he  had  been  born  before  his  father's 
punishment  he  did  not  lose  his  color,  and 
all  his  people  therefore  are  white. 

Libo  and  Saman  were  carried  south, 
where  the  hot  sun  scorched  their  bodies 
and  caused  all  their  descendants  to  be  of 
a  brown  color. 

A  son  of  Saman  and  a  daughter  of 
Sicalac  were  carried  east,  where  the  land  at 
first  was  so  lacking  in  food  that  they  were 
compelled  to  eat  clay.  On  this  account 
their  children  and  their  children's  children 
have  always  been  yellow  in  color. 

And  so  the  world  came  to  be  made  and 
peopled.  The  sun  and  moon  shine  in  the 
sky  and  the  beautiful  stars  light  up  the 
night.  All  over  the  land,  on  the  body  of 
the  envious  Licalibutan,  the  children  of 
Sicalac  and  Sicabay  have  grown  great  in 
numbers.  May  they  live  forever  in  peace 
and  brotherly  love ! 


THE    SILVER   SHOWER 

VERY  night  in  Manila,  when 
the  bells  of  the  city  boom  out 
the  Angelus  and  lights  begin 
to  appear  in  the  windows,  the  walks  are 
filled  with  people  hurrying  toward  the  bay. 
In  the  streets  hundreds  of  carriages,  their 
lamps  twinkling  like  fireflies,  speed  quickly 
by,  as  the  cocheros  urge  on  the  little  Fili 
pino  ponies.  All  are  bound  for  the  Luneta 
to  hear  the  evening  concert. 

A  pretty  place  is  the  Luneta,  the  garden 
spot  of  the  city.  It  is  laid  out  in  elliptical 
form  and  its  green  lawns  are  covered  with 

benches  for  the  people.     A  broad  driveway 

65 


66  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

surrounds  it  and  hundreds  of  electric  lights 
transform  the  night  into  day. 

A  band  stand  is  located  at  each  end  of 
the  oval,  and  at  night  concerts  are  given 
by  the  military  bands. 

Thousands  of  people  gather  to  listen  to 
the  music.  The  bright  uniforms  of  officers 
and  men,  the  white  dresses  of  American 
ladies,  the  black  mantillas  of  the  dark-eyed 
senoritas,  and  the  gayly  colored  camisas  of 
the  Filipino  girls  show  that  the  beauty  and 
chivalry  of  Manila  have  assembled  at  the 
concert. 

The  band  plays  many  beautiful  selections 
and  finally  closes  with  the  "  Star-Spangled 
Banner."  At  once  every  head  is  bared  and 
all  stand  at  rigid  attention  till  the  glorious 
old  song  is  finished.  Then  the  musicians 
disperse,  the  carriages  drive  away,  and  peo 
ple  return  to  their  homes. 

Many,  however,  linger  on  the  benches  or 
stroll  along  the  beach,  watching  the  water 


THE  SILVER  SHOWER  67 

curling  upon  the  shore.  As  the  waves  reach 
the  land  a  soft  light  seems  to  spring  from 
them  and  to  break  into  thousands  of  tiny 
stars.  Now  and  then  some  one  idly  skips 
a  stone  over  the  water.  Where  it  touches, 
a  little  fountain  of  liquid  fire  springs  up 
ward,  and  the  water  ripples  away  in  gleam 
ing  circles  that,  growing  wider  and  wider, 
finally  disappear  in  a  flash  of  silvery  light. 
Of  all  the  beauties  of  the  Islands,  the 
water  of  Manila  Bay  at  night  ranks  among 
the  first.  And  those  who  ask  why  it  flashes 
and  glows  in  this  way  are  told  the  story  of 
the  silver  shower  .that  saved  the  Pasig  vil 
lages  from  the  Moro  Datto  Bungtao. 

Hundreds  of  years  ago  messengers  came 
hurrying  from  the  south  of  Luzon  with  the 
news  that  the  great  Datto  Bungtao,  with 
many  ships  and  men,  was  on  his  way  to 
the  island  to  burn  the  villages  and  carry 
the  people  away  into  slavery. 


68  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

Then  great  fear  came  into  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  for  the  fierce  Datto  was  the  ter 
ror  of  the  eastern  seas,  and  all  the  southern 
islands  were  reported  captured.  Neverthe 
less,  they  resolved  to  defend  their  homes  and 
save  their  people  from  shame  and  slavery. 

The  news  proved  true,  for  the  Moro  chief 
landed  a  great  army  on  the  shore  of  the 
Bay  of  Batangas,  and  his  fierce  followers, 
with  fire  and  sword,  started  north  to  lay 
waste  the  country. 

For  a  time  they  drove  all  before  them, 
but  soon  Luzon  was  up  in  arms  against 
them  and  great  numbers  of  warriors  hur 
ried  southward  to  battle  with  the  Moros. 
All  tribal  feeling  was  forgotten  and  Taga- 
los,  Macabebes,  Igorrotes,  and  Pangasi- 
nanes  hurried  southward  in  thousands. 

The  Moros  presently  found  themselves 
checked  by  a  large  army  of  men  determined 
to  save  their  homes  or  to  die  fighting. 
Near  the  present  town  of  Imus,  in  Cavite, 


THE  MORO  INVADERS 
69 


THE  SILVER  SHOWER  71 

a  battle  was  fought  and  the  Moros  were 
defeated.  They  then  retreated  southward, 
but  great  numbers  of  Vicoles  and  Tingui- 
anes  rushed  up  from  the  southern  part  of 
the  island  and  blocked  their  way. 

On  the  shore  of  the  great  Lake  Bombon 
the  final  battle  was  fought.  The  Moros 
were  killed  to  a  man,  and  with  great  rejoi 
cing  the  tribes  returned  north  and  south 
to  their  homes. 

But  in  the  meantime  Bungtao  had  not 
been  idle.  After  landing  his  men,  with  his 
two  hundred  ships  he  set  sail  northward, 
never  doubting  that  his  army  would  sweep 
all  before  it.  A  typhoon  carried  his  fleet 
far  south  into  the  China  Sea,  but  he  steered 
again  for  Luzon  and  three  weeks  later  was 
in  sight  of  Corregidor  Island. 

He  sailed  down  Manila  Bay  and  drew 
up  his  fleet  in  front  of  the  villages  on  the 
Pasig  River,  the  present  site  of  Manila. 
On  the  shore  the  people  gathered  in  terror, 


72  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE   STORIES 

for  all  the  warriors  had  gone  to  fight  the 
invading  army,  and  only  old  men  and  wo 
men  and  children  remained  in  the  villages. 

Hastily  they  called  a  council  and  finally 
decided  to  send  a  messenger  out  to  the 
Moro  chief  with  all  the  gold  and  things 
of  value  they  possessed,  thinking  thus 
to  satisfy  the  fierce  Datto  and  save  their 
villages  from  harm. 

Accordingly  the  women  gave  their  rings 
and  bracelets  and  the  men  their  bangles 
and  chains.  Everything  of  value  was 
taken  from  the  houses.  Even  the  tem 
ples  of  prayer  were  stripped  and  all  the 
ornaments  taken.  So  great  was  the  fear 
of  the  people  that  they  even  sent  the  gold 
statue  of  the  great  god  Captan  that  was 
the  pride  of  the  tribe,  whose  members 
came  miles  to  worship  it. 

As  Bungtao  was  preparing  to  land  and 
attack  the  town  with  his  sailors,  the  mes 
senger  in  his  canoe  came  alongside  the 


THE   SILVER  SHOWER  73 

ship  and  was  at  once  taken  before  the 
Datto.  Trembling  with  fear,  the  old  man, 
with  signs,  begged  for  mercy  for  the  people 
on  the  shore.  He  pointed  to  the  presents 
and  offered  them  to  Bungtao.  Then,  pla 
cing  the  golden  image  of  Captan  at  the 
feet  of  the  Moro  and  bowing  low,  he  again 
pleaded  for  the  women  and  children. 

Bungtao  laughed  in  scorn  at  the  offer. 
On  his  island  w^as  gold  enough  to  satisfy 
his  people.  He  needed  slaves  to  work  in 
the  fields,  for  it  was  beneath  the  dignity  of 
such  warriors  as  himself  and  his  compan 
ions  to  labor.  So  he  kicked  the  messenger 
from  him  and,  with  a  curse,  picked  up  the 
sacred  golden  image  and  threw  it  far  over 
the  water.  Instantly  the  sky  grew  dark 
and  blackest  night  covered  the  land.  The 
messenger  felt  himself  seized  by  invisible 
hands  and  carried  to  the  shore. 

Then  suddenly  the  heavens  opened,  and 
a  shower  of  silver  fire  rained  on  the  Moro 


74  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

boats.  In  vain  the  Moros  tried  to  escape 
The  fire  hemmed  them  in  on  every  side. 
Many  leaped  from  the  burning  ships  into 
the  boiling  water.  When  the  darkness 
cleared,  boats  and  Moros  had  disappeared. 


Joyfully  the  people  on  the  shore  ran  to 
the  temple  of  worship  to  pray  to  Captan. 
What  was  their  surprise  to  find  the  golden 
image  of  the  god  in  its  usual  place,  and 
around  it  the  bracelets  and  rings  offered 
to  the  Moros ! 


THE  SILVER  SHOWER  75 

When  the  warriors,  a  few  days  later, 
returned  from  their  great  victory  in  the 
south,  they  could  hardly  believe  the  story 
of  the  wonderful  escape  of  their  people. 
But  at  night,  when  they  saw  the  heretofore 
dull  waters  dashing  and  breaking  on  the 
shore  in  crystals  of  silvery  light,  they  knew 
that  it  was  Captan  who  had  saved  their 
homes  and  families. 

The  villages  are  a  thing  of  the  past.  The 
modern  city  of  Manila  now  stands  on  the 
banks  of  the  Pasig. 

The  nights  here  are  very  beautiful.  The 
breeze  sighs  softly  through  the  palm  trees 
and  the  golden  moon  gleams  on  the  waters 
of  Manila  Bay. 

On  the  shore  the  waves  break  gently  and 
little  balls  of  silver  light  go  rushing  up  the 
beach.  Wise  men  say  that  the  water  is 
full  of  phosphorus.  But  they  have  never 
heard  the  story  of  the  Silver  Shower. 


UNIVERSITY 

OF  / 


76 


THE    FAITHLESSNESS  OF 
SINOGO 

:OMEWHERE  off  the  northern 
coast  of  Mindanao  a  strong 
current  begins  to  travel  north 
ward.  It  runs  to  the  island  of  Siquijor 
and  then,  turning  slightly  to  the  east,  goes 
racing  between  the  islands  of  Cebu  and 
Negros.  At  the  narrow  entrance  between 
San  Sebastian  and  Ayucatan  it  breaks  up 
into  hundreds  of  small  whirlpools  that 
make  the  water  hiss  and  bubble  for  a 
distance  of  nearly  three  miles. 

77 


78  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

For  steamers  and  large  boats  there  is 
not  the  slightest  danger,  but  to  the  native 
in  his  little  sacayan  with  its  bamboo  out 
riggers  these  whirlpools  are  objects  of 
dread  and  fear.  He  will  go  miles  out  of 
his  way  to  escape  them.  If  you  inquire 
as  to  the  reason,  he  will  explain  that  the 
Liloan,  or  whirlpool,  is  a  thing  always  to 
be  avoided,  and  then  he  will  tell  you  the 
story  of  Sinogo. 

Years  and  years  ago,  when  Maguayan 
ruled  the  sea  and  the  terrible  Captan 
launched  his  thunderbolts  from  above,  the 
water  and  air  were  filled  with  swimming 
and  flying  monsters.  Those  that  lived  in 
the  air  were  armed  with  great  teeth  and 
sharp  claws;  but,  though  they  were  fierce 
and  savage,  they  lived  together  in  peace, 
for  they  feared  the  anger  of  their  master 
Captan. 

In  the  sea,  however,  all  was  not  so 
peaceful,  for  some  of  the  monsters  were  so 


THE  FAITHLESSNESS  OF  SINOGO  79 

huge  and  savage  and  so  confident  in  their 
strength  that  Maguayan  could  do  nothing 
with  them.  He  lived  in  constant  fear  of 
attack  from  these  fierce  subjects  and  finally, 
in  despair,  called  on  Captan  to  help  him  in 
his  trouble. 

Accordingly  Captan  sent  his  swift  mes 
sengers  to  every  part  of  the  earth,  air,  and 
sea,  and  ordered  that  a  council  of  all  the 
creatures  in  the  world  should  be  held.  He 
named  the  little  island  of  Caueli  in  the 
center  of  the  Sulu  Sea  as  the  meeting 
place,  and  commanded  all  to  hasten  there 
without  delay. 

Soon  the  members  of  the  council  began 
to  arrive,  and  the  sky  was  darkened  by 
flying  monsters,  and  the  water  boiled  as 
the  terrible  reptiles  of  the  sea  rushed  to  the 
place  appointed. 

In  a  short  time  the  little  island  was 
crowded  with  these  dreadful  creatures. 
There  were  huge  Buayas  from  Mindanao, 


80  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

fierce  Tic-bolans  from  Luzon,  savage  Sig- 
bins  from  Negros  and  Bohol,  hundreds 
of  Unglocs  from  Panay  and  Leyte,  and 
great  Uak  Uaks  and  other  frightful  mon 
sters  from  Samar  and  Cebu.  They  grouped 
themselves  in  a  large  circle  around  a  golden 
throne  on  which  sat  Captan  and  Maguayan, 
and  while  waiting  the  commands  of  their 
master  filled  the  air  with  shrieks  and  howls. 
At  length  Captan  raised  his  hand  and 
the  noise  instantly  stopped.  Then  he  an 
nounced  his  decree.  He  said  that  Magua 
yan  was  his  brother  god  and  should  be 
treated  with  the  same  respect.  He  com 
manded  all  his  subjects  to  obey  the  god 
of  the  sea  and  told  them  that  he  would 
kill  with  a  thunderbolt  any  that  disobeyed 
this  order.  Then  he  desired  all  to  return 
to  their  own  regions,  and  again  the  air 
was  filled  with  a  noise  of  thunder  and  the 
sea  roared  and  foamed  as  the  monsters 
went  back  to  their  homes. 


THE  FAITHLESSNESS  OF  SINOGO  8 1 

Soon  there  remained  on  the  island  only 
Captan,  Maguayan,  and  three  messengers  of 
Captan,  who  were  called  Sinogo,  Dalagan, 
and  Guidala.  These  were  giants  in  size 
and  had  large  wings  which  enabled  them 
to  fly  with  great  swiftness.  They  had 
long  spears  and  sharp  swords  and  were 
very  brave  and  powerful.  Of  the  three, 
Dalagan  was  the  swiftest,  Guidala  the 
bravest,  and  Sinogo  the  handsomest  and 
best  loved  by  Captan. 

When  all  the  creatures  were  gone  Magua 
yan  thanked  Captan,  but  the  great  god  said 
that  he  had  only  done  his  duty  in  helping 
his  brother.  Then  he  gave  Maguayan  a 
little  golden  shell  and  explained  to  him  its 
wonderful  power.  Maguayan  had  but  to 
put  it  in  his  mouth  and  he  could  change 
his  form  to  that  of  any  creature  he  pleased. 
In  case  a  monster,  defying  Captan's  orders, 
should  attack  him,  he  had  simply  to  change 
himself  into  a  stronger  monster  of  twice  the 


82  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

size  of  his  enemy,  and  then  fight  and  kill 
him  easily. 

Again  Maguayan  thanked  his  brother 
god  and,  taking  the  shell,  placed  it  on  the 
throne  beside  him.  Then  Captan  ordered 
his  messengers  to  bring  food  and  drink,  and 
soon  the  two  gods  were  feasting  merrily. 

Now  it  happened  that  Sinogo  had  been 
standing  behind  the  throne  and  had  heard 
all  that  had  been  said.  He  was  filled  with 
a  desire  to  own  the  wonderful  shell,  and  in 
spite  of  the  many  favors  he  had  received 
from  Captan  he  resolved  to  steal  it.  The 
more  he  thought  of  its  great  power,  the 
more  he  longed  for  it.  With  it  he  could 
rule  the  earth  and  sea  as  a  god,  and,  by  hid 
ing,  he  might  avoid  the  anger  of  Captan. 
So  he  watched  for  an  opportunity  to  make 
away  with  it.  Finally  his  chance  came. 
While  handing  Maguayan  some  food,  he 
slyly  caught  up  the  shell,  and  soon  after 
wards  quietly  slipped  away. 


THE   FAITHLESSNES^^OgP  83 

For  some  time  his  absence  was  not  dis 
covered,  but  all  at  once  Captan  called  for 
his  favorite  messenger  and,  receiving  no 
reply,  ordered  Dalagan  to  search  for  him. 
Soon  Dalagan  returned  and  reported  that 
Sinogo  could  not  be  found  on  the  island. 
At  the  same  time  Maguayan  noticed  that 
the  golden  shell  was  gone. 

Then  Captan  knew  that  his  messenger 
had  stolen  the  shell  and  escaped.  He  flew 
into  a  great  rage  and  swore  he  would  kill 
Sinogo.  He  ordered  Dalagan  and  Guidala 
to  hasten  to  the  north  in  search  of  the  faith 
less  messenger  and  to  bring  him  back  a 
prisoner. 

Swiftly  northward  over  the  blue  sea  flew 
the  messengers,  and  near  the  island  of  Gui- 
maras  caught  sight  of  Sinogo.  He  saw  his 
pursuers  and  flew  all  the  swifter,  but  he 
was  no  match  for  them  in  speed.  Nearer 
and  nearer  they  came  and  then,  drawing 
their  swords,  rushed  forward  to  seize  him. 


84  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

But  Sinogo  was  not  to  be  easily  caught. 
Quick  as  a  flash,  he  placed  the  shell  in  his 
mouth  and  dived  down  into  the  water,  at 
the  same  time  changing  himself  into  a 
huge  crocodile-shaped  Buaya  with  scales 
like  armor  of  steel. 

In  vain  Dalagan  and  Guidala  rained 
blows  on  the  monster.  The  swords  could 
not  pierce  the  heavy  scales. 

Up  through  Guimaras  Strait  the  chase 
went  on,  and  Sinogo  tore  up  the  water  in 
his  flight.  So  great  was  the  disturbance  of 
the  ocean  that,  as  they  rounded  the  north 
ern  coast  of  Negros,  the  waves  dashed  com 
pletely  over  the  little  island  of  Bacabac, 
sweeping  away  the  hills  and  bringing  the 
land  to  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Still  the  rapid  flight  went  on.  Straight 
for  Bantayan  headed  Sinogo,  but  suddenly 
changing  his  course  he  dashed  into  the 
narrow  channel  between  Negros  and  Cebu. 
Then  Dalagan,  leaving  Guidala  to  continue 


THE   FAITHLESSNESS  OF  SINOGO  85 

the  chase  alone,  flew  swiftly  back  to  Caueli 
and  told  Captan  that  Sinogo  was  in  the 
little  strait.  Up  sprang  the  god  and,  fly 
ing  directly  east,  he  posted  himself  at  the 
southern  entrance  of  the  channel.  In  his 


hand  he  held  an  enormous  thunderbolt,  and 
thus  armed  he  waited  for  the  appearance 
of  Sinogo. 

Down  into  the  narrow  entrance  sped  the 
faithless  messenger,  tearing  up  the  water 
in  his  mad  flight,  while  the  brave  Guidala 


86  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

struck  in  vain  at  his  huge  body.  Suddenly 
a  roar  of  thunder  sounded  and  the  thunder 
bolt  fell  on  the  back  of  the  monster,  bear 
ing  him  down  beneath  the  waves  and  then, 
stiffening  like  a  bar  of  iron,  pinning  him  to 
the  bottom  far  below.  In  vain  he  strug 
gled  to  free  himself ;  the  bar  held  him  fast 
and  sure.  In  his  struggles  the  shell  fell 
from  his  mouth,  but  a  little  Tamban  caught 
it  and  brought  it  safely  to  Captan. 

Thousands  of  years  have  passed,  but  far 
under  the  water,  like  a  fly  on  a  pin,  Sinogo 
struggles  in  the  form  of  a  huge  Buaya. 
The  water  bubbles  around  him  and  for 
three  miles  little  whirlpools  go  racing  up 
the  channel.  And  the  native  in  his  little 
sacayan  avoids  the  narrow  entrance  where 
the  water  boils  and  foams,  for  Sinogo  still 
twists  and  squirms,  and  the  Liloan  is  a 
thing  to  be  feared  and  dreaded. 


CAT-ALINA   OF    DUMAGUETE 

This  is  a  legend  of  Dumaguete,  the  capital  of  the  prov 
ince  of  Negros  Occidental.  From  this  town  can  be  seen  five 
islands,  viz.,  Negros,  Cebu,  Bohol,  Mindanao,  and  Siquijor. 

>) 

!VHERE  is  no  one  on  the  great 
island  of  Negros  who  does  not 
love  the  name  of  Catalina. 
Even  the  wild  mountain  men  speak  it  with 
respect,  and  down  in  the  coast  towns  at 
night,  when  the  typhoon  is  lashing  the 
waters  of  Tafion  Strait,  and  the  rain  and 
wind  make  the  nipa  leaves  on  the  roofs 

dance  and  rattle,  the  older  people  gather 

87 


88  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

their  little  black-eyed  grandchildren  around 
the  shell  of  burning  cocoanut  oil  and  tell 
them  her  story. 

Many  years  ago  there  lived  in  Duma- 
guete  a  poor  tuba  seller  named  Banog,  who 
made  his  daily  rounds  to  the  houses  just 
as  the  milkman  does  in  far-off  America. 
But  instead  of  a  rattling  wagon  he  had 
only  a  long  bamboo  from  which  he  poured 
the  drink,  and  in  place  of  sweet  milk  he 
left  the  sap  of  the  cocoanut  tree. 

The  bad  custom  of  mixing  tufigud,  a 
kind  of  red  bark,  with  the  sap,  and  thus 
making  of  it  a  strong  liquor,  had  not  yet 
been  known,  so  Banog,  though  poor,  was 
respected,  and  the  people  tried  in  every 
way  to  help  him  and  his  daughter  Catalina. 

Catalina  was  a  beautiful  girl  of  sixteen 
and  very  good  and  industrious,  but  with 
many  strange  ways.  She  scarcely  ever 
spoke  a  word  and  spent  most  of  her  time 
in  looking  out  over  the  sea.  Sometimes 


"  Catalina  walked  lightly  over  the  waves. 
89 


I  u^Rl 

N^fAl  " 


CATALINA  OF  UUMAGUETE  9! 

she  would  suddenly  stand  erect  and,  clasp 
ing  her  hands,  would  remain  for  a  long 
time  looking  up  at  the  sky  as  if  she  saw 
something  that  no  one  else  could  see.  On 
account  of  these  strange  manners  the  peo 
ple  thought  her  a  wonderful  girl  and  she 
was  supposed  to  have  mysterious  powers. 

One  day  many  ships  came  up  from  the 
island  of  Mindanao  and  hundreds  of  fierce 
Moros  landed.  Shouting  and  waving  their 
terrible  knives,  they  fell  upon  the  peaceful 
people  and  killed  many,  among  them  poor 
Banog.  Then  they  robbed  and  burned  the 
houses  and,  seizing  all  the  women  they 
could  find,  set  sail  for  their  great  southern 
island.  Among  the  prisoners  was  Catalina. 
With  her  eyes  fixed  on  the  sky  she  sat 
very  quiet  and  still  in  the  bow  of  one 
of  the  boats,  and  though  her  companions 
spoke  often  to  her  she  made  no  reply. 

Suddenly  she  sprang  into  the  water  and 
a  wonderful  thing  occurred,  for,  instead  of 


92  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

sinking,  she  walked  lightly  over  the  waves 
toward  the  distant  shore.  The  Moros  were 
so  astonished  that  they  did  not  try  to  stop 
her  and  she  reached  the  land  safely. 

Many  people  who  had  hidden  in  the 
forests  ran  out  to  meet  her  but  she  spoke 
to  no  one.  With  her  eyes  still  fixed  above 
she  walked  through  the  burning  town  and 
along  the  road  to  Dalugdug,  the  Thunder 
mountain,  that  lies  behind  Dumaguete. 

On  Dalugdug  there  lived  a  terrible  Sig- 
bin.  Its  body  was  like  that  of  a  monstrous 
crow,  but  just  under  its  neck  were  two  long 
legs  like  those  of  a  grasshopper,  which  en 
abled  it  to  leap  great  distances  without 
using  its  wings.  It  ate  any  one  who  came 
near  its  home,  so  when  the  people  saw 
Catalina  start  to  climb  the  mountain  they 
begged  her  to  come  back.  She  paid  no  heed 
to  their  cries,  however,  but  went  up  higher 
and  higher,  till  her  white  dress  seemed 
merely  a  speck  on  the  mountain  side. 


CATALINA  OF   DUMAGUETE 


93 


All  at  once  she  seemed  to  stop  and  raise 
her  hands.  Then  a  fearful  shriek  was 
heard,  and  the  fierce  Sigbin  came  rushing 
down  the  mountain.  It  appeared  to  be 


greatly  frightened,  for  it  took  tremendous 
leaps  arid  screamed  as  if  in  terror.  Over 
the  heads  of  the  people  it  jumped,  and, 
reaching  the  shore,  cleared  the  narrow 
channel  and  disappeared  among  the  moun 
tains  of  the  island  of  Cebu. 


94  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE   STORIES 

When  the  people  saw  that  the  Sigbin 
had  gone  they  ran  up  the  mountain  and 
searched  everywhere  for  Catalina,  but  they 
could  find  no  trace  of  her.  Sorrowfully 
they  returned  to  their  homes  and  busied 
themselves  in  building  new  houses  and  in 
making  their  town  beautiful  once  more. 

Several  years  passed  in  peace  and  then 
again  the  Moro  boats  came  up  from  Min 
danao.  The  men  hurriedly  gathered  on 
the  beach  to  meet  them,  and  the  women 
and  children  hid  in  the  cocoanut  groves. 

This  time  the  Moros  had  no  quick  and 
easy  victory,  for  the  Visayans,  armed  with 
bolos  and  remembering  their  .lost  wives 
and  sisters,  fought  furiously,  and  for  a 
time  drove  the  enemy  before  them.  But 
more  Moro  boats  arrived  and  numbers  told 
against  the  defenders.  Slowly  but  surely 
they  fell  fighting  until  but  a  few  remained. 

Suddenly  a  bridge  of  clouds  unfolded 
from  Dalugdug  to  the  town,  and  across  it 


l*>  ,V-»-^ 

*  °TTRSrrY 


CATALINA  OF   DUMAGUETE  95 


came  the  lost  Catalina  holding  a  beehive 
in  her  hands.  Then  she  spoke  and  thou 
sands  of  bees  flew  from  the  hive  to  the 
ground.  Again  she  spoke  and  waved  her 
hand,  and  the  bees  changed  into  little  black 
men  with  long  sharp  spears,  who  charged 
the  Moros  and  killed  every  one  of  them. 

Then  Catalina,  the  hive  still  in  her  hand, 
went  back  over  the  bridge  and  disappeared 
once  more  in  the  mountain. 

The  people  came  out  of  their  hiding 
places,  crowding  around  the  little  black 
men  and  questioning  them,  but  they  re 
ceived  no  answer.  Instead  the  little  war 
riors  gathered  together  and  ran  into  the 
forest  and  up  the  mountain  side,  where 
they  were  soon  lost  to  view. 

Such  is  the  story  of  Catalina.  Since 
that  time  Dumaguete  has  been  safe  from 
the  Moros.  The  Sigbin  has  never  returned 
to  Negros.  It  still  lives  in  the  mountains 
of  Cebu  and  the  people  are  so  afraid  of  it 


96 


PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 


that  they  lock  themselves  in  their  houses 
after  dark  and  can  hardly  be  induced  to 
come  out.  Up  in  the  mountains  of  Negros 
live  the  little  black  men.  They  are  called 
Negritos  and  are  very  savage  and  wild. 

The  savior  of  Dumaguete  still  lives  in 
Dalugdug  and  is  worshiped  by  the  people. 
And  in  the  town,  now  grown  into  a  big  busy 
city,  the  old  people  for  years  to  come 
will  tell  their  grandchildren  the  story  of 
Catalina. 


FALL   OF    POLOBULAC 


This  is  a  tale  from  Panay.  It  probably  originated  with 
the  Spanish  fathers,  who  wished  to  impress  the  doctrine  of 
the  Seven  Deadly  Sins  on  the  natives.  The  islands  are 
just  off  Iloilo. 

LITTLE  way  from  Iloilo  there 
once  was  a  beautiful  island 
called  Polobulac,  or  Isle  of 
Flowers.  Its  shores  were  covered  with 
beautiful  trees  and  plants ;  splendid  gardens 
of  flowers  were  found  everywhere;  fruits 
grew  in  abundance ;  fountains  sparkled  in 
the  sunlight;  and  the  people  were  the 
happiest  in  the  world.  They  danced  and 
sang  to  gay  music,  and  were  free  from 
every  care  and  sorrow. 

97 


98  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

Filled  with  confidence  in  their  good  for 
tune,  and  proud  of  their  beautiful  island, 
they  began  to  slight  the  people  of  the 
neighboring  islands,  and  to  treat  them 
with  insolence  and  scorn. 

One  night  the  sky  was  darkened,  the 
lightning  flashed,  the  rain  fell  in  torrents, 
and  a  voice  cried  from  the  clouds,  above 
the  roar  of  the  thunder: 

"  I  am  Pride.     Avoid  me  or  perish." 

Terrified,  they  prayed  to  God  for  pro 
tection,  but  with  the  morning  sun  their 
fears  left  them  and  they  continued  as 
before. 

Days  passed  and  the  people  grew  richer, 
but,  not  satisfied  with  their  wealth  and 
with  their  own  beautiful  island,  they  longed 
to  possess  the  lands  of  their  neighbors. 

Again  came  the  storm,  and  again  a 
voice  cried  from  the  heavens : 

"  I  am  Covetousness.  Come  to  me 
and  die." 


Day  and  night  found  them  feasting. 
99 


OF  TH 


i?*X 

E  A 

UNIVERSITY   ) 

OF  / 

NJ>!  Tont^X 


THE  FALL  OF  POLOBULAC 

Once  more  they  appealed  for  protection, 
but  they  did  not  change  their  ways. 

Weeks  went  by,  and  with  wealth  came 
low  and  base  desires.  The  storm  came  as 
before  and  brought  the  warning : 

"  I  am  Evil  Desire.  Fly  from  me  or 
be  lost." 

But  again  it  sounded  to  sealed  ears. 

Months  rolled  on.  The  people  quarreled 
with  their  neighbors,  and  sent  forth  an 
army  to  make  war  upon  them.  The  voice 
thundered : 

"  I  am  Anger.     I  give  eternal  torment." 

Years  followed,  and  the  tables  of  the 
people  of  Polobulac  were  loaded  with  the 
finest  foods  and  wines.  Day  and  night 
found  them  feasting.  The  cry  sounded 
above  them : 

"  I  am  Gluttony.     I  devour  my  children." 

The  winds  alone  echoed  the  warning. 

Time  flew  by.  Each  man  sought  to 
outdo  the  others  in  display  of  luxury  and 


102  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

magnificence.  The  poor  grudged  the  rich 
their  fortunes,  and  sought  in  every  way  to 
injure  them.  Again  a  voice  came  through 
the  darkness : 

"  I  am  Envy.  My  people  are  con 
demned." 

But  they  closed  their  ears  and  would 
not  hear. 

More  wealth  brought  greater  luxury. 
They  lolled  in  idleness.  They  idled  in 
the  midst  of  magnificence.  The  voice 
warned : 

"  I  am  Sloth.     I  bring  final  warning." 

They  were  used  to  the  voices  now,  and 
gave  them  not  the  slightest  heed.  Their 
insolence  and  greed  grew  greater.  The  fail- 
island  shook  with  dissension  and  strife. 

One  day  the  sun  was  hidden  by  black 
ness.  A  fearful  tempest  burst  over  the 
land.  The  people  on  the  other  islands 
saw  Polobulac  wrapped  in  seven  huge  pil 
lars  of  flame. 


THE   FALL  OF  POLOBULAC 


103 


When  the  sky  cleared,  Polobulac  was 
nowhere  to  be  seen.  In  its  place,  seven 
blackened  rocks  marked  the  spot  where 
stood  the  beautiful  isle. 

They  are  there  to  this  day.  You  can 
see  them  as  you  leave  the  harbor  for 
southern  ports.  Sometimes  they  appear 
as  one.  Again  they  seem  to  group  in 
twos  and  threes.  But  there  are  seven. 

They  are  called  the  Deadly  Sins. 


104 


THE    ESCAPE   OF    JUANITA 

"AVE  you  heard  of  the  terrible 

Tic-balan, 
A  tall  and  thin  and  very  black 

man, 

With  terrible  teeth  and  a  horse's  head, 
And   covered  with  hair  that  is   long  and 
red? 

He  lives  in  the  awful  Balete  tree, 

And  to  pass  the  place  you  must  say  "Tabi " ; 

105 


106  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

If  you  do  not,  the  Asuang  comes  at  night, 
And    throws    big   stones    till   you    die    of 
fright. 

Now  once  there  lived  in  Santa  Cruz  town 
A  little  girl  known  as  Juanita  Calaon ; 
She  was  gentle  and  sweet  and  as  good  as 

could  be, 
And  she  always  bowed  low  to  the  Balete 

tree. 

One  day  to  the  forest  alone  she  did  roam 
To  get  some  good  wood  for  the  fire  at 

home; 
She  gathered  some  twigs  that  she  found 

on  the  ground, 
And    all    of   them    fast    in    a  bundle   she 

bound. 

Then  happy  and   free,  with   the  pack  on 

her  head, 
She  followed  the  road  that  back  to  town 

led. 


THE  ESCAPE  OF  JUANITA  107 

She  sang  as    she  walked,   and  so   happy 

was  she 
That  alas !  she  bowed  not   to   the   Balete 

tree. 

All  at  once  then  she  heard  a  most  terrible 

roar, 
And  the  Tic-balan  fierce  through  the  air 

seemed  to  soar. 
He   seized    poor    Juanita,    and    quick    as 

could  be 
He  shut  her  inside  of  the  Balete  tree. 


Two  days  passed,  and  when  the  girl  failed 

to  come  back, 
Her  parents  went  out,  and  no  friends  did 

they  lack 
To    help    in    the    search,    for    the    whole 

pueblo  came, 
And   loudly  they  shouted   poor  Juanita's 

name. 


108  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

At  last  when  they  thought  that  the  search 

brought  no  good, 
One  man  found  Juanita's  neat  bundle  of 

wood ; 
He  called   the   good    news,   and   as   more 

came  to  see, 
Loud  knocking  was   heard   in   the   Balete 

tree. 

Then    many   were   frightened,    but    many 

were  brave, 
And  wondered    by  what  means    the   girl 

they  could  save ; 
For  they  knew  that  it   must  be  Juanita 

who  knocked, 
And  that  inside  the   Balete  tree  she  was 

locked. 

Soon  they  ordered  that  candles  and  music 

be  brought, 
And  a  crucifix   holy  was  what  they  next 

sought ; 


They  closed  round  the  tree," 
109 


THE   ESCAPE  OF  JUANITA  in 

And  when  all  was  ready  they  closed  round 

the  tree, 
While  they  prayed  to  the  true  God  to  set 

the  girl  free. 

They   lighted    the   candles    and    then    the 

band  played, 

And  Juanita's  mother,  who  was  not  afraid, 
Advanced  with  the  crucifix  held  in  her  hand, 
And  tapped  with  the  cross  on  the  evil  tree 

grand. 

Then  a  roar  shook  the  forest  and  chilled 

all  their  hearts, 

And  the  awful  Balete  split  into  two  parts ; 
Then  they  saw  in  the  center,  as  each  big 

half  fell, 
Their  darling  Juanita  all  smiling  and  well. 

She  ran  from  the  tree  to  her  fond  mother 

dear, 
While  the  band  played  and  every  one  gave 

a  loud  cheer ; 


1  12 


PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 


Then  back  to  the  pueblo  they  danced  in 

delight, 
And  kept  up  their  singing  through  all  the 

long  night. 

Still  there  to  this  day  lies  the  Balete  tree, 
But  no  more  do  the  people  that  pass  say 

"  Tabi." 
And   the  spirit   no   more  can   molest  any 

man, 
For  God  has  more  power  than  the  fierce 

Tic-balan. 


THE  ANTlMg-ANTING  OF  MANU- 
"  ELITO 

The  Anting- Anting  is  a  stone  or  other  small  object  covered 
with  cabalistic  inscriptions.  It  is  worn  around  the  neck, 
and  is  supposed  to  render  its  owner  impervious  to  knife  or 
bullet.  Many  are  wearing  these  charms,  especially  the  Tuli- 
sanes  or  outlaws.  The  Anting-Anting  must  not  be  confused, 
however,  with  the  scapular,  a  purely  religious  symbol  worn 
by  a  great  number  of  the  Christian  Filipinos. 

ANY  of  the  older  Filipinos 
remember  Manuelito,  the  great 
Tulisane,  who,  more  than  fifty 
years  ago,  kept  all  the  Laguna  de  Bai 
district  in  a  state  of  fear.  His  robber 
band  was  well  organized  and  obeyed  his 
slightest  wish.  He  had  many  boats  on 


114  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE   STORIES 

the  lake  and  many  hiding  places  in  the 
mountains,  and  throughout  the  country 
there  was  no  villager  who  did  not  fear  to 
oppose  him,  or  who  would  refuse  to  help 
him  in  any  way  when  required  to  do  so. 

In  vain  the  Guardia  Civil  hunted  him. 
Many  times  they  surrounded  the  band,  but 
Manuelito  always  escaped.  Many  shots 
were  fired  at  him,  but  he  was  never  hit ; 
and  once,  when  he  was  cut  off  from  his 
men  and  surrounded,  he  broke  through 
the  line,  and  though  fifty  bullets  whistled 
around  him  he  did  not  receive  a  scratch. 

The  officers  of  the  Guardia  Civil  blamed 
their  men  for  the  bad  marksmanship  that 
allowed  Manuelito  to  escape.  They  told 
all  the  people  that  it  should  never  occur 
again,  and  promised  that  the  next  fight 
should  end  in  the  death  of  the  outlaw. 
The  people,  however,  did  not  believe  that 
Manuelito  could  be  killed,  for  he  wore  on 
his  breast  a  famous  Anting-Anting  that  he 


THE  ANTING-ANTING  OF  MANUELITO      115 

had  received  from  Mangagauay,  the  giver 
of  life  and  death. 

This  charm  was  a  stone  covered  with 
mysterious  signs.  It  was  wrapped  in  silk 
and  hung  by  a  string  from  the  robber's 
neck,  and  even  if  a  gun  were  fired  within 
a  few  feet  of  him  the  Anting-Anting  was 
sure  to  turn  the  bullet  in  another  direc 
tion.  It  was  this  charm  that  always  saved 
him  from  the  Guardia  Civil. 

Manuelito  was  very  proud  of  his  Anting- 
Anting,  and  many  times,  when  a  fiesta  was 
being  held  in  some  town,  he  and  his  band 
would  come  down  from  the  mountains 
and  take  part  in  the  games.  Manuelito 
would  stand  in  the  town  plaza  and  allow 
his  men  to  shoot  at  him,  and  each  time 
the  Anting-Anting  would  turn  aside  the 
bullets.  The  people  were  very  much  im 
pressed,  and  though  a  few  of  the  wiser 
ones  secretly  thought  that  the  guns  were 
only  loaded  with  powder,  they  were  afraid 


Il6  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

to  say  anything;  so  the  greater  number 
thought  it  very  wonderful  and  believed 
that  there  was  no  charm  so  powerful  as 
the  Anting-Anting  of  Manuelito. 

For  years  the  Tulisane,  protected  by 
his  charm,  continued  to  rob  and  plunder. 
The  Guardia  Civil  hunted  him  every 
where,  but  could  never  kill  him.  He 
grew  bolder  and  bolder,  and  even  came 
close  to  Manila  to  rob  the  little  towns 
just  outside  the  city. 

At  last  the  government  grew  tired  of 
sending  out  the  Guardia  Civil,  and  or 
dered  a  regiment  of  Macabebes  to  hunt 
and  kill  the  Tulisane  and  his  men. 

Manuelito  was  at  Pasay  when  news  was 
brought  to  him  that  the  Macabebes  were 
coming.  Instead  of  running  from  these 
fierce  little  fighters,  he  decided  to  meet 
them,  and  many  people  offered  to  help 
him,  believing  that  the  Anting-Anting 
would  turn  away  all  bullets  and  give  them 


Waited  for  the  Macabebes  to  appear. 
117 


THE  ANTING-ANTING  OF  MANUELITO      119 

victory.  So  Manuelito  and  many  men  left 
the  town,  built  trenches  in  the  hills  near 
San  Pedro  Macati,  and  waited  for  the 
Macabebes  to  appear. 

They  had  not  long  to  wait.  The  Maca 
bebes,  hurrying  from  Manila,  reached  San 
Pedro  Macati  and  soon  found  that  Ma 
nuelito  was  waiting  to  fight  them.  They 
left  the  town  at  once  and  advanced  on 
the  Tulisane  trenches. 

It  was  a  great  fight.  From  the  other 
hills  close  by  many  people  watched  the 
battle.  Five  times  the  Macabebes  ad 
vanced,  and  were  forced  to  fall  back  before 
the  fierce  fire  of  the  Tulisanes.  But  the 
Macabebe  never  knows  defeat,  and  once 
more  their  line  went  forward  and  in  one 
terrible  charge  swept  over  the  trenches 
and  bayoneted  the  outlaws.  In  vain 
Manuelito  called  on  his  men  to  fight. 
They  broke  and  ran  in  every  direction. 
Then,  seeing  that  all  was  lost,  Manuelito 


120  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 

started  to  follow  them ;  but  a  volley  rang 
out,  and,  struck  by  twenty  bullets,  he 
fell  to  the  ground  dead.  The  Macabebes 
chased  the  flying  Tulisanes  and  killed 
many,  so  that  of  all  the  band  only  a  few 
safely  reached  the  mountains. 

While  the  Macabebes  were  chasing  the 
outlaws,  many  people  came  down  from  the 
hills  and  stood  around  the  body  of  Ma 
nuelito.  They  could  hardly  believe  their 
eyes,  but  the  many  wounds  and  the  blood 
staining  the  ground  proved  that  the  great 
Tulisane  was  indeed  dead. 

What  of  the  Anting-Anting  ?  Had  it 
lost  its  power? 

One  man  timidly  unbuttoned  the  shirt  of 
the  dead  robber  and  pulled  out  the  charm. 
The  mystery  was  explained.  Fixed  firmly 
in  the  center  of  the  Anting-Anting  was  a 
silver  bullet.  There  was  but  one  explana 
tion.  The  Macabebes  had  melted  a  statue 
of  the  Virgin  and  used  it  to  make  bullets 


THE  ANTING-ANTING  OF  MANUELITO      121 

to  fire  at  Manuelito.  Against  such  bullets 
the  charm  was  useless,  but  against  ordi 
nary  lead  it  never  would  have  failed.  Had 
not  the  people  seen  Manuelito's  own  men 
fire  at  him  ? 

The  charm  was  taken  from  the  neck  of 
the  dead  Tulisane  and  many  copies  were 


made  of  it.  Even  to  this  day  hundreds  of 
people  are  wearing  them.  They  will  tell 
you  about  Manuelito's  great  fight  and  also 
about  his  famous  Anting-Anting. 


122 


PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE  STORIES 


"  But,"  you  say,  "  the  Anting-Anting  was 
useless.  Manuelito  was  killed." 

They  answer,  "  Yes,  Sefior,  it  is  true ; 
but  the  Macabebes  used  bullets  of  silver. 
Had  they  used  lead  the  story  would  have 
been  different.  Poor  Manuelito  !  " 


On  the  P* 


WHEN   THE  LILIES   RETURN 

A  legend  of  the  Chinese  Invasion.  Quiapo,  even  at 
the  time  of  the  early  Spaniards,  and  for  years  after,  was 
a  deserted  field.  The  story  is  an  old  one  and  generally 
known  to  the  Tagallos. 

T  the  time  when  the  Pasig  flowed 
peacefully  along  between 
flowery  banks ;  when  its  breast 
was  not  torn  by  puffing  steamers;  and 
when  only  a  few  clustering  huts  marked  the 
present  site  of  Manila,  there  grew  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  a  beautiful  field  of  lilies. 
The  lilies  glistened  like  silver  in  the  sun 
light,  and  their  sweet  odor  filled  the  air 

with  delicious  perfume.     No  hand  plucked 

123 


124  PHILIPPINE   FOLKLORE   STORIES 

them  from  the  earth,  and  no  foot  tram 
pled  out  their  fragrance;  for  an  ancient 
prophecy  had  said  that  while  the  lilies 
stood  the  happiness  of  the  people  should 
endure. 

But  after  a  time  there  came  dark  days 
in  the  history  of  the  Philippines.  Yellow 
hordes  swept  across  the  water  and  carried 
all  before  them.  The  people  could  hardly 
expect  to  resist  the  invaders,  for  their  war 
rior  king,  Loku,  had  profaned  the  word  of 
the  god,  and,  in  the  form  of  a  lizard,  was 
fulfilling  his  punishment.  Their  armies 
were  weak  and  scattered,  and  the  con 
querors  marched  on  in  triumph. 

As  report  after  report  of  disaster  reached 
Luzon,  the  people  trembled  for  the  safety 
of  their  fair  land.  Warriors  gathered 
hastily  for  the  defense  of  the  nation,  and 
all  waited  for  the  enemy  to  appear. 

One  day  the  water  was  dotted  with  the 
junks  of  the  invaders.  They  came  slowly 


They  came  slowly  down  the  hay." 
I25 


WHEN   THE   LILIES  RETURN  127 

down  the  bay,  and  anchored  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Pasig. 

Then  from  the  boats  poured  the  yellow 
warriors.  Spears  rained  upon  them,  stones 
and  arrows  laid  them  low,  but  their  num 
bers  were  countless.  The  people  were 
swept  back  along  the  river  banks. 

Fiercely  they  fought,  but  numbers  told 
against  them.  Foot  by  foot  they  were 
pressed  back,  till  they  stood  on  the  border 
of  the  field  of  lilies,  where  they  made  their 
last  stand.  But  it  was  to  no  purpose. 

The  invaders  poured  from  the  ships, 
and  in  one  desperate  charge  drove  back 
the  ranks  of  the  people,  who  fought  and 
died  among  their  sacred  lilies. 

All  through  the  night  the  battle  raged, 
and  at  daybreak,  when  the  victorious  in 
vaders  rested  on  their  spears,  the  beautiful 
field  was  no  more. 

The  lilies  were  crushed  and  torn.  The 
bodies  of  dead  and  dying  warriors  lay 


128  PHILIPPINE  FOLKLORE  STORIES 

everywhere,  and  the  crushed  flowers  were 
stained  with  the  blood  of  friend  and  foe. 
The  peace  of  the  land  was  lost. 

Many  years  have  passed  since  then. 
New  races  have  come  to  the  Islands,  and 
new  manners  and  customs  have  been  intro 
duced.  The  Pasig  still  flows  on  to  the 
sea,  but  its  banks  are  harnessed  by  bridges. 
Lofty  dwellings  and  stores  take  the  place 
of  the  little  huts,  and  a  great  city  marks 
the  site  of  the  little  village. 

Where  once  was  the  beautiful  field  is 
now  a  busy  part  of  the  great  city.  It  is 
called  Quiapo,  after  the  lilies.  Many  of 
the  older  people  remember  the  prophecy 
and  wonder  if  the  lilies  will  ever  return. 

The  land  is  now  a  peaceful  and  con 
tented  one.  Comfort  and  happiness  may 
be  found  among  its  inhabitants.  Perhaps 
the  fair,  strange  women  from  the  great 
land  over  the  sea  are  the  lilies.  Who 
can  tell? 


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